When it's time to level up your gaming setup, having the right microphone can make all the difference in immersing your audience in your virtual adventures. Among the sea of choices, two microphones stand out for their remarkable features and affordability: the Maono PD200X and the Maono DM30 RGB. In this review, we'll compare and contrast these two dynamic microphones, shedding light on their respective strengths and hopefully give you some insight into which microphone would work best for you! So grab your headset, buckle up, and let’s see who will come out on top of this epic showdown.
PD200X - Dynamic XLR/USB Microphone
Specifications:
- Price: $72.99 $61.99 (Amazon)
- Element Type: Dynamic microphone
- Polar Pattern: Cardioid
- Connectivity: XLR & USB-C
- Bit Depth/Sample Rate: 24-bit/48kHz
- Frequency Response: 40Hz-16kHz
- Adjustable Gain Range: 0 to +42dB
- SensitivityXLR: -52dBV
- USB: -10.5dBFS/Pa(Max)
- Max. SPL>130dB SPL
- Compatible Devices: Desktop/Laptop/Computer/Mixer/Audio Interface/PS4/PS5/MAC OS/WINDOWS
- Recommended Uses: For Product Podcasting, Recording, Streaming, Gaming, Video Conference
I recently had the pleasure of testing the Maono PD200X microphone, and while its intended use is for podcasting, I planned on testing this beauty out on my Twitch streams. I have to say, it exceeded my expectations. This dynamic microphone offers spectacular clarity and versatility, making it a fantastic choice for podcasting, recording, streaming, and of course - gaming.
One of the standout features of the PD200X is its exceptional audio quality. The microphone captured my voice with crystal-clear precision, ensuring that my audience (which is typically just my goofy friends) hears every word without any distortion or unwanted background noise. I keep my computer tower on top of my desk like a heathen, so sometimes microphones tend to pick up that soft background roar. However, the cardioid polar pattern effectively isolated my voice and kept unwanted background sounds to a minimum. To my delight, this gave my stream a huge boost in quality. Going back and watching my VODs, you can definitely hear a clear difference in microphone quality between my headset and the PD200X. There is also built-in foam pop filter, which I’m sure contributed greatly to the noise control.
Positioning the microphone was a breeze thanks to the Maono boom arm. I’ve tried other boom arms from Amazon, and never been really happy with them; either because the quality was terrible, or they didn’t fit my desk. Even with the Maono boom arm, I still can’t affix it properly to my standing desk because the securing bracket doesn’t quite fit around the edges. However, I have an L-shaped desk directly next to me with my 3D printers, and the boom arm fits perfectly there and stretches over to my standing desk! The boom arm provides excellent stability and flexibility, allowing me to adjust the microphone's position according to my needs. Sometimes this means quickly moving it up and away because my cat decides she wants to help with my streaming. Or, I need to adjust the position further away from my hands because I’m mashing buttons too furiously on my controller in Street Fighter 6 and the microphone is picking it up. With the smooth pivot joint on the boom arm, I can keep a comfortable distance while ensuring that my stream still experiences optimal sound quality.
Another delightful aspect of the PD200X is its eye-catching RGB light ring. The illuminated ring adds a touch of style and professionalism to my streaming setup. While it probably creates an appealing visual aesthetic for viewers, I use an animated PNG for Twitch instead of getting on camera, so it’s just a visual bonus for me! I’m a sucker for customizing my peripherals depending on my mood or what game I’m playing, and the customizable lighting options allow me to match them however I’d like.
In terms of connectivity, the PD200X offers both XLR and USB-C options, providing flexibility to suit different setups and devices. I personally am just a PC gamer, and I benefit the most from the USB-C connectivity, but if I had other consoles I would be able to swap over to them in a flash with little to no issues. With that being said, the PD200X assumes that you have a stand or a boom arm - something to mount it with already, and tries to give you the tools needed to do so. It already comes with a stand adapter and a shock mount, so you just need to be prepared with some kind of mount when it arrives in order to start recording.
The Maono PD200X boasts a wide frequency response range of 40Hz to 16kHz, ensuring that it captures a rich spectrum of sound, from deep lows to crisp highs. While there isn’t a quantitative readout that shows you exactly how loud or quiet you are, the light ring around the volume knob on the microphone body glows brighter when the gain is cranked all the way up. Once you’ve reached the maximum volume, the ring blinks three times to let you know you can’t go any higher. The same can be said for pressing the knob once and activating the control over your headset volume. The ring turns blue and lets you quickly adjust how much of your voice can be heard through your headset if your headset is plugged into the headphone jack.
I was actually pretty impressed with how user-friendly and intuitive the microphone controls were. With that being said, even though I’m not color-blind, I can’t help but wonder how much of a hassle strictly color-based indicators would be for those that struggle with red/blue/green inputs. Relying strictly on colors is kind of a dangerous game and might alienate potential customers.
Listen to the PD200X Here!At this point, it’s pretty damn clear that I’m head over heels for the PD200X microphone. I will be using this thing religiously from one on in my streams. So, how does the DM30 RGB hold up?
DM30 RGB - Cardioid Condenser Microphone
Specifications:
- Price: $46.99 $37.59 (Amazon)
- Pickup device type: Condenser
- Polar Pattern: Cardioid
- Sensitivity: -4dBFS (1V/Pa at 1kHz)
- Frequency Response: 2OHz - 20kHz
- USB Specifications: USB 2.0
The DM30 RGB is a condenser microphone with a cardioid polar pattern, but at first glance it’s obvious to see that some features have been traded around. One of the standout features of the DM30 RGB microphone is its vibrant and customizable RGB lighting. Unlike the PD200X, the DM30 RGB features full RGB color throughout the body of the microphone, still giving you that color story freedom that we all desire with our gaming setups. This was a big plus for me, because the gradient color patterns are very pleasing (almost hypnotizing) to look at. I’ve never had a microphone that had full color throughout the body, so this felt like playing with a new, exciting, gaming toy all over again.
Ideal for new content creators, the DM30 RGB comes with a convenient stand, eliminating the need for additional equipment purchases. This inclusive feature is a significant advantage, particularly for those starting their streaming journey or seeking a cost-effective solution without compromising on quality. The stand is a nice, heavy aluminum with some little hidden rubber feet on the bottom that keep it firmly rooted on the desk. Unfortunately, while I tried to eliminate the background sound, you can definitely hear the soft hum of my computer tower in the background of the sample audio clip since it sits on top of my desk. That’s entirely on me, because well…the sound is coming through the desktop, and the microphone is sitting on a box on top of the desk, but I thought you should be able to hear the difference all the same.
The DM30 RGB microphone also boasts a user-friendly design with its 3-in-1 button functions. This all-in-one feature allows you to effortlessly manage various controls with a single button. Whether it's muting the microphone, adjusting the microphone volume, or tweaking the headset earphone volume, you can achieve all these functions by pressing one button. While it works fine for me, unfortunately, the DM30 RGB is also similar to the PD200X in that it relies solely on color to give you feedback. As I mentioned above, this could get kind of dicey with users that struggle to view red/green/blue colors.
While the DM30 RGB microphone is very newbie friendly, it still provides great quality and doesn’t compromise much on performance. Nonetheless, with a frequency response range of 20 Hz to 20kHz, it’s undeniable that there is a difference in sound quality between the two mics. The DM30 RGB sounds fantastic, but in my opinion, the PD200X sounds better. Regardless, the DM30 RGB still delivers a clear and professional-grade sound.
Furthermore, the DM30 RGB's USB 2.0 specifications ensure easy connectivity with your computer. This plug-and-play capability eliminates the need for any complex setups, allowing you to focus on your content creation rather than technical difficulties. The DM30 RGB lacks XLR compatibility, but for those just starting out the ease of plug-and-play USB connectivity is probably just fine.
For streamers who crave additional audio customization, the DM30 RGB microphone provides the option to upgrade EQ settings through the Maono Link software. This feature allows you to fine-tune your audio output, ensuring optimal sound quality that suits your preferences and content requirements. I’m still a little new to audio recording myself, so I didn’t have much use for Maono Link, but I can definitely see the benefit for those that want to finetune their audio.
Listen to the DM30 RGB Here!
In conclusion, the Maono DM30 RGB microphone proves to be an excellent choice for budget-conscious streamers and content creators. Its affordability, inclusive stand, vibrant RGB lighting, and user-friendly controls make it an attractive option for those starting their streaming journey. The microphone's impressive audio quality, easy connectivity, and the option for software-based EQ upgrades provide a well-rounded streaming experience. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced streamer looking for a reliable and visually appealing microphone, the Maono DM30 RGB is a great investment.
Editor’s Choice?
If you’ve made it this far (or just skipped to the end), then you’ll know my choice between these two microphones is obviously the PD200X. Had I only tried the DM30 RGB microphone, I probably would have been over the moon and happy - but the PD200X microphone just takes the sound quality to a whole new level. If you’re pretty set on wanting to get into recording content, or maybe you just want your insults to ring through crystal clear in BattleBits, I would highly recommend Maono’s PD200X dynamic microphone.
The products discussed in this article were provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes. Purchasing items through the links included here results in a small commission that goes toward supporting the site. Authors are not compensated based on clicks or commissions..jpg)